Locking means



Oct. 11, 1966 A. HURVITZ 3,277,677

LOCKING MEANS Filed July 16. 1964 ARNOLD HURV/ 7'2 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,277,677 LOCKING MEANS Arnold Hurvitz, 18 Vassar Road, Broomall, Pa. Filed July 16, 1964, Ser. No. 383,072 4 Claims. (Cl. 70-90) The invention relates to a locking means and more particularly to a locking means for clamping together two adjacent structures, such as window sashes, doors and frames and hinged luggage sections, as examples.

Heretofore, securing and clamping devices have been provided for securing adjacently positioned structures. The present locking means of the invention provides key means for locking such securing means to the type described in its clamping and secured position.

The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a new and improved locking means for securing and clamping structures such as window sashes, doors, luggage and such other items.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved locking means which can be locked in the secured and clamped position by use of key means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved locking means of simple construction and positive operation providing maximum security.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved locking means which may be used without key means for clamping and securing action and, if desired, may be locked in its closed and clamping position by the use of key means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved locking means which is attractive in appearance and highly adaptable for use in securing and locking various items.

The above and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a locking means comprising a base unit, a handle means pivotally mounted upon said base unit for actuation between the first open position and the second closed position, a locking lever mounted upon said base unit for actuation between a first open position and a second clamping position and in engagement with the handle means for being selectively positioned and retained in either of its first and second positions, and key means supported by the base unit for controllably locking the handle means in its saidsecond closed position.

The handle means is provided with a rotatable shaft for pivotally mounting the handle means upon said base unit, and the key means engages the shaft of the handle means for controllably locking the handle means in its closed position. The handle means includes a cam element engaging the locking lever for positioning the lever and clamping same with a retaining member when in its second position. The key means also includes a key actuated tumbler and a locking rod for controllably engaging and locking the shaft of the handle means by actuating the tumbler when the handle means is in its closed position. The base unit is provided with means for guiding the movement and rotation of the locking lever between its first and second positions upon being positioned by the handle means.

A locking rod is slidably mounted in the base unit for movement between a first open position and a second locking position and the shaft of the handle means is provided with an opening positioned for receiving and being rotatably retained by an end of the rod when the 3,277,677 Patented Oct. 11, 1966 handle means is in its second closed position and the rod is placed in its second locked position.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the drawin gs, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a locking means embodying the invention shown in its closed and locked position, and mounted upon adjacent structures to be secured to gether,

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the locking means in its disengaged or open position,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 3, showing the locking rod in its engaged or locked position operated by key means,

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, showing the locking rod in its disengaged or open position, and

FIGURE 6 is an exploded view of the locking means shown in FIGURE 1.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

Refer to the figures which disclose the locking means 10 embodying the invention. The locking means 10 includes a base unit 12 having flanges 15 which are secured with a structure 14 by screw means 16. The means 10 also includes a retaining member 18 having a base plate 19 secured by screw means 20 to a structure 22 which is to be secured and clamped with the structure 14. The structures 14 and 22 may comprise a pair of window sashes which are adapted to slide with respect to each other when not secured together by the means 10, or the structures 14 and 22 may be hinged with respect to each other as in the case of a door of a building or the hinged section of luggage and similar articles. Of course, it will be obvious that the means 10 may be used in connection with various other structures for securing, clamping and locking them together.

The base unit 12 is provided with a vertical opening 24 which receives therein the vertically depending shaft 26 of a handle means 28. The top portion of the shaft 26 has extending from it a cam element 30, and is joined to a circular top plate 32 with an extending actuating handle 34 for rotating the handle means 28 between the first open position shown in FIGURE 2 and a second closed position shown in FIGURE 1. As clearly seen in FIGURE 3, the end 36 of the shaft 26 is provided with a retaining washer 38 permitting the rotary actuation of the handle means 28, but preventing its removal from its position within the opening 24 of the base unit 12.

A locking lever 40 is received between the top surface 44 of the base unit 12 and the bottom surface of the plate 32 of the handle means 28. The end 42 of the locking lever 40 is provided with an opening 46 receiving therethrough the shaft 26 of the handle means 28 and having its linear edge 48 engageable by the cam element of the handle means 28. The tapered extending end portion 50 of the locking lever is provided with a hook end 52 for engaging and being received within the undercut recess portion 54 of the retaining member 18, clearly seen in FIGURE 3.

The portion 42 of the locking lever 40 is provided with a pin 56 extending downwardly from its lower surface, while the top surface 44 of the base unit 12 is provided with guide means in the form of a groove 58 for receiving the pin 56 of the locking lever 40. The groove 58 is provided with an arcuate portion 60 of 90 degrees about the opening 24 and a radially extending portion 62 parallel to the edge 64 and directed perpendicular toward the edge 66 of the base unit 12.

When the pin 56 of the locking lever 40 is at the end 68 of the groove 58 (see FIGURE 6), the lever 40 and the handle means 28 are in the open position of the looking means 10 shown in FIGURE 2. With the rotation of the handle means 28 in the clockwise direction, the cam element 30 of the handle means 28 actuates the lever in the clockwise direction with its pin 56 moving along the arcuate portion 60 of the groove 58. Upon the completion of the 90 degree rotation of the handle means 28 and lever 40, the pin 56 has completed its arcuate travel around the portion 60 of the groove 58. Further rotation of the handle means 28 through an additional 90 degrees to its closed position, as shown in FIGURE 1, results in the retracting and clamping movement of the locking lever 40 with the movement of its pin 56 along the linear portion 62 of the groove 58 towards its end 70. This retracting action takes place under actuation by the cam element 30 of the handle means 34 in exerting a force along the linear edge 48 of the opening 46 in the locking lever 40 as it moves therealong from its position relative to the locking lever 40 shown in FIGURE 2 to its position with respect to the lever 40 shown in FIGURE 1. Leverage provided by the final rotation by 90 degrees by the handle means 28 exerts a clamping force by the portion 50 on the retaining member 18 for tightly securing the structure 14 with the structure 22.

In order to lock the locking means 10 in its closed and clamping position, shown in FIGURE 1, a key means 72 is provided including a rotatable tumbler 74 operated by a key 76 mounted within a horizontally cylindrical opening 78 within the base unit 12 extending to the side 79. A second horizontal opening 80 is provided within the base unit 12 extending transverse to the internal end of the opening 78 and connecting with the vertical opening 26 receiving the shaft 26 of the handle means 28. The end 82 of the opening 80 is enclosed by threadedly receiving plug 84 therein. A cylindrical locking rod 86 is slidably received within the opening 80 and is provided with an intermediate portion 88 of reduced diameter defining a first end portion 90 and a second end portion 92 of the rod 86.

The shaft 26 of the handle means 28 is provided with a cylindrical opening 94 which is in alignment with the opening 80 only when the handle means 28 is in its closed position as shown in FIGURES l, 3, 4 and 5.

The tumbler 74 of the key means 72 is provided with an extending actuating pin 96 which rotates with the tumbler 74 when operated by its key 76. The actuating pin 96 is received between the first and second portions 90, 92 of the locking rod 86 for actuation between the open position of the locking rod 86 shown in FIGURE 5 and its second locking position shown in FIGURE 4.

In its first open position, the end 90 of the first portion 86 is not received within the opening 94 of the shaft 26 of the handle means 28 leaving the handle means 28 free for actuation between its open and closed positions. However, when the tumbler 74 is rotated by the key 76 to position the locking rod 86 with its end portion 90 received into the opening 94 of the shaft 26 of the handle means 28, the handle means 28 is secured against rotation out of its closed clamping position shown in FIG- URE 1. With the means 10 locked in its closed position and the key 76 removed, the members 14 and 22 may not be unlocked by unauthorized persons. Such locking means 10 may find great utility in buildings where doors and window sashes are to be maintained locked, and are to be opened only by authorized personnel.

The means 10 is easily opened by use of the key 76 by rotating same to move the locking rod 86 to its open position shown in FIGURE 5, after which the handle 34 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction for degrees to extend and unclamp the end portion 50 of the lever 40 from the retaining member 18. The locking lever 40 rotates with the handle 34 through the next 90 degrees swinging it away from its poistion over the retaining member '18 and into the position shown in FIGURE 2.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention may find wide application with appropriate modification to meet the individual design circumstances, but without substantial departure from the essence of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A locking means comprising a retaining member and a base unit for being respectively secured to parts of a structure which are to be locked together, said base unit including guide means, a locking lever mounted upon said base unit in engagement with said guide means for rotational and linear movement between a first open position radially displaced from said retaining member and a second position in clamping engagement with said retaining member, said locking lever being provided with an opening therethrough having an arcuate edge and a linear edge, a handle means pivotably mounted upon said base unit for rotation between a first open position and a second closed position and provided with a cam element engaging said locking lever, said handle means being provided with a rotatable shaft extending through the opening in said locking lever in engagement with its arcuate edge for pivotally mounting said handle means upon said base unit, said cam element with the rotation of said handle means from its open position toward its closed position rotating said locking lever from its radially displaced position to its position proximate to and in alignment with said retaining member and with further rotation of said handle means into its closed position linearly moving said locking lever into clamping engagement with said retaining member, the cam element of said handle means engaging the linear edge of the opening in said locking lever for rotating and linearly moving said locking lever between its said open and closed positions, and key means supported by said base unit for controllably locking said handle means in its said second closed position, said key means engaging the shaft of said handle means for controllably locking said handle means in its closed position.

2. The means of claim 1 in which said key means comprises a key actuated tumbler and a locking rod for controllably engaging and locking the shaft of said handle means by actuating said tumbler when said handle means is in its closed position.

3. The means of claim 2 in which the guide means of said base unit comprises a groove with an arcuate portion and a linear portion for guiding the rotation and clamping movement respectively of said locking lever when actuated between its first and second positions by said handle means, and said locking rod is slidably mounted in said base unit for movement between a first open position and a second locked position, and the shaft of said handle means is provided with an opening positioned for receiving and being rotatably fixed by an end of said rod when said handle means is in its second closed position and said rod is placed in its second locked position.

4. The means of claim 3 in which said tumbler of said key means is provided with an actuating pin for moving said rod between its first and second positions by rotation of said key actuated tumbler, and including a retaining member for being engaged by said locking lever when in its second clamping position and disengaged when said lever is in its open position.

(References on following page) 5 6 References Cited by the Examiner 3,034,328 5/ 1962 Rifkin 7090 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,176,487 Davenbaugh 70-137 10/1890 WOICOtt 2921 11 FO I A N 9/1898 Ives 29265 2/1933 Kismet w X 5 667,032 6/1963 Canada. 11/ 1940 Fitz Gerald 70-252 4/1942 Jacobi X BOBBY R. GRAY, Przmary Exammer.

8/ 1961 Riser 292111 JOSEPH D. SEERS, Examiner. 

1. A LOCKING MEANS COMPRISING A RETAINING MEMBER AND A BASE UNIT FOR BEING RESPECTIVELY SECURED TO PARTS OF A STRUCTURE WHICH ARE TO BE LOCKED TOGETHER, SAID BASE UNIT INCLUDING GUIDE MEANS, A LOCKING LEVER MOUNTED UPON SAID BASE UNIT IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID GUIDE MEANS FOR ROTATIONAL AND LINER MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST OPEN POSITION RADIALLY DISPLACED FROM SAID RETAINING MEMBER AND A SECOND POSITION IN CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RETAINING MEMBER, SAID LOCKING LEVER BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING THERETHROUGH HAVING AN ARCUATE EDGE AND A LINEAR EDGE, A HANDLE MEANS PIVOTABLY MOUNTED UPON SAID BASE UNIT FOR ROTATION BETWEEN A FIRST OPEN POSITION AND A SECOND CLOSED POSITION AND PROVIDED WITH A CAM ELEMENT ENGAGING WITH LOCKING LEVER, SAID HANDLE MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITH A ROTATABLE SHAFT EXTENDING WITH ITS ARCUATE ING IN SAID LOCKING LEVER IN ENGAGEMENT WITH ITS ARCUATE EDGE FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID HANDLE MEANS UPON SAID BASE UNIT, SAID CAM ELEMENT WITH THE ROTATION OF SAID HANDLE MEANS FROM ITS OPEN POSITION TOWARD ITS CLOSED POSITION ROTATING SAID LOCKING LEVER FROM ITS RADIALLY DISPLACED POSITION TO ITS POSITION PROXIMATE TO AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID RETAINING MEMBER AND WITH FURTHER ROTATION OF SAID HANDLE MEANS INTO ITS CLOSED POSITION LINEARLY MOVING SAID LOCKING LEVER INTO CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RETAINING MEMBER, THE CAM ELEMENT OF SAID HANDLE MEANS ENGAGING THE LINEAR EDGE OF THE OPENING IN SAID LOCKING LEVER FOR ROTATING AND LINEARLY MOVING SAID LOCKING LEVER BETWEEN ITS SAID OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS AND KEY MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID BASE UNIT FOR CONTROLLABLE LOCKING SAID HANDLE MEANS IN ITS SAID SECOND CLOSED POSITION, SAID KEY MEANS ENGAGING THE SHAFT OF SAID HANDLE MEANS FOR CONTROLLABLY LOCKING SAID HANDLE MEANS IN ITS CLOSED POSITION. 